Endocrine disrupting compounds
Definition of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs):
An endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture that alters one or more functions of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse effects in an organism, its offspring or a population.[1]
This is the common definition for Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs), other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
Endocrine disruptors interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system, in which hormones act as chemical messengers and regulate physiological processes through specific receptors.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can interfere with hormonal regulation in several ways. They can mimic or antagonize natural hormones by activating or blocking their receptors, alter hormone synthesis, metabolism or excretion, interfere with hormone transport and availability, or alter hormone receptor abundance and endocrine feedback regulation.
Endocrine disruption can affect reproduction, development, growth, metabolism and other physiological functions. The best studied mechanisms involve estrogen, androgen and thyroid signalling and steroidogenesis, although other endocrine pathways are increasingly recognized.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals include natural and synthetic hormones and many industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants. Their occurrence, biological effects and relevance to coastal environments are discussed in Endocrine disruption by marine pollutants.
Related articles
- Endocrine disruption by marine pollutants
- Endocrine system
- Biomonitoring of pollution impacts in the marine environment
- Biomarkers for assessing marine pollution effects
- Health biomarkers in marine mammals
- Coastal pollution and impacts
- Biomarker
- Bioindicator
References
- ↑ OECD, 2025. Report on the State of the Science to Address Endocrine Disrupters Under the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling. OECD Series on Testing and Assessment, No. 427, OECD Publishing, Paris.
